Page 229 of Tell Me I'm Enough

My face goes hot, and I can’t help the uncomfortable laugh that comes up.

I quickly turn and lift Lani up in a victory spin instead, sticking my tongue out at Erik. “She’s mine, back off.”

He just laughs and shakes his head at us. “Maybe you can share her one day.”

Lani goes stiff and crosses her arms. “Youmight like to be passed around…but Idon’t.”

I still, and my eyes go wide.

Okay, Erik—church boy, Jesus lover…and man whore?

Wouldn’t have pegged him for that label.

I mean, looking at him…I get it, you know? But if you’re around him for more than five minutes, you’d know he’s not just the rough exterior that you see.

Erik just stands there, nodding like he deserved that.

“Well,” Lydia starts, breaking the silence. “As much as I’m living for all this tension between you two…it’s starting to feel a little awkward from over here.”

Bash stands behind her, placing his hands on her shoulder, making her look up at him with her innocently mischievous expression.

I just keep my fingers over my lips, trying not to laugh when it would probably be inappropriate to do so at the moment.

Lani switches right back into her bubbly, happy self like a complete psychopath—one I love dearly.

“Let’s go, guys!” she says with a sweet smile. “The stands are clearing out.”

Nobody else says a word.

We start making our way down towards the field, because of course everyone wants to crowd the railing and yell at the players like they’re celebrities. It’s pure chaos down there.

We end up near the edge of the field where a cluster of girls from Greek row are already gathered—some of them talking about the game, some of them taking selfies, and some of them talking about literally anything except football because this is also just social hour for them.

There’s a conversation happening about Breakaway—some big worship night on campus that everyone seems to go to like it’s a concert, a church service, and a social event all in one.

Lydia looks up to Bash. “Y’all always go to that, right?”

He looks at her cautiously, almost like he doesn’t wanna scare off this conversation. “Yeah, we do. It’s a good time.”

Lydia looks over to me. “Maybe we can all go next time?”

“I’ve never been,” I admit. “But…I’d check it out. With y’all.”

Lydia’s face brightens. “Really?”

“Yeah,” I say, shrugging. “Why not?”

Lani pops in, too. “I’ll go.”

I look at her. “You will?”

She rolls her eyes. “Don’t make it a thing.” Then she stares dead at Erik. “As long as I’m not too close to him. Wouldn’t wanna get struck down or anything.”

It’s getting really hard not to give in and laugh at her constant theatrics with him.

Erik just smirks at her. “Good thing I’ve tested that myth out a couple of times now. Many churches, no strikes yet. Guess I’m not as evil as you think.”

“Yeah,” she says, “doubt that.”